Foot impression device



July 22, 1958 ycz. A. HANINGTON EooI IMPRESSION DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1955 llllElIIl P July 22, 1958 c. A. HANINGTON 2,843,957

FOOT IMPRESSION DEVICE Filed May 5, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y@ WW' @BY Y@ United States Pate-'nt Ofic@ Patented July 22, 1958 2,843,957 FOOT IMPRESSION DEVICE Charles A. Hanington, Freeport, N.Y., assignor to The @chill Mfg. Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Application May 5, 1955, Serial No. 506,244

8 Claims. (Cl. 41--4)` This invention relates to improvements in an impression device, and more particularly to a foot impression device constructed to provide an accurate imprint of the plantar surface of a human foot upon a sheet of recording materiahsuch as a reference card or the like, to aid a physician, surgeon, or chiropodist in diagnosing the ail ments and `arranging proper treatment for the particular foot, although the invention may have other uses andl purposes, such as in connection with the finger or hand printing field, as will be apparent to one skilled in the art. i

Heretofore, various types of devices have been de veloped for the purpose of making a foot impression. However, these devices were objectionable in many respects, in that many of them were not readily portable for transportation from place to place and could not be efficiently manipulated with sufficient ease and rapidity. In addition, prior known devices depended upon an inking roller similar in construction and purpose to a transfer pad as used for inking a rubber stamp. Moreover, the large inking area necessary for a foot impression, the Alack of any air-tight covering for the inking area and the infrequent use of these devices, permitted the inking surface to dry up, thereby giving a weak impression when foot pressure is applied. In these circumstances, re-inking of the transfer surface is necessary, which is a messy and time consuming operation.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide an impression device that is compact in size, completely confined within a single box-like container, ready for immediate usage, highly eiiicient, and economical to construct and use.

Another object of this invention is to provide a foot impression device for making yan inked impression on a sheet of recording material, such as graph paper, which dispenses with the use of the heretofore conventional ink ing roller, while permitting the making of an accurate im pression in a clean, fast, and eicient manner.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of` a foot impression device having its Working components completely confined within a box-like conrainer which is capable of offering a fresh moist inked surface for each operation without depending upon the use of a conventional inking roller.

Itis also an object of this invention to provide a portable foot impression device having an ink printed or coated roll of film wound on a suitable spindle or core, wherein Athe successive layers of film seal the coated sur face in so that it cannot dry out even over a long period of time.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a foot impression device utilizing an ink printed or coated roll of Saran film to form the ink imprinting surface.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of a foot impression device including a frame having a sheet of dental rubber stretched thereover coating with a closely adjacent ink printed or coated film to make a foot impression on a recording surface.

` A further object of the invention is in providing a foot impression device consisting in general of a pair of -cover members hinged together, a frame hingedly associated With and disposed Within the cover members, a yieldable sheet carried by the frame, and -a winding and reeling mechanism for selectively moving an inked iilm underneath the yieldable sheet. i

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, -others will become apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a foot impression device embodying the principles of the present invention, showing the same in open position with the frame raised from the bottom of the container to better illustrate the structure;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line II-II of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows with the structure in position for use;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line III-III of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a perspective View of an ink coated or printed roll of iilm before its installation on the winding and reeling mechanism of the instant invention, according to the principles of the invention;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective of one of the four shaft holding extensions, a pair of which provides support for a shaft at either end of the frame;

Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a retaining cap which iits over the shaft and shaft supporting extensions in accordance with the invention;

Figure 7 is `an enlarged perspective View of a roll supporting shaft utilized with the invention; and

Figure 8 is an enlarged view in perspective of a locking member which fits over the square shaft and locks `a film roll thereto for simultaneous rotation.

` identical dish-shaped closure or casing members 10 land 11, the former of which functions as a lid or cover while the latter serves to provide a bottom or supporting base. Each member carries equally spaced and staggered loops along oppositely facing sides which are `arranged to accommodate' a pin and constitute a hinge, as indicated by the numeral 12 for allowing themembers to pivot relatively to each other. Thus, it is seen that the top 10 and bottom 11 coact to constitute an elongated relatively flat, box-like container. The closure members may be suitably formed from any light weight material to enhance the portability of the unit, but having the strength to withstand the yforces applied by the weight of a human body during the making of 'a foot impression.

Disposed within the contines of the closure members is a frame, generally indicated by the numeral 13, comprising a pair of elongated side members14-14 having upturned arms` 14a-44a each terminating in an upwardly open slot or crotch-likeshaft support 14b (see Fig. 5), and a pair of spaced parallel cross members or bars 15-15 suitably secured, such as by welding or otherwise, to the spaced side members 14. The side members 14 and the cross bars 15 are preferably tubular in form to preserve the lightness of the foot impression unit and are of any suitable light weight durable metal, such as` instance three hinge members, project from the rear `side member 14 upwardly to be suitably associatedvwith the hinge member 1,2 of the closure members. f `Each hinge f member is securely fastened to the corresponding'side member 14, such as by welding or the equivalent, and terminates in its upper end in an eye for receiving the pin of hinge 12, as seen most clearly in Figure 2.

Carried at each end of the frame 13 between a pair of the crotch-like supports 14b of the side members 14 are a pair of substantially square shafts 17-17. As seen most clearly in Figure 7, each shaft 17 includes an elongated intermediate square portion 17a, a short threaded end 17h to be carried in the crotch 1411 adjacent the hinged member 12, a longer threaded portion 17e at the opposite end of the shaft to be carried by the crotch Mb of the side member 14 farther from the hinge 12, and a reduced square portion 17d which, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, extends out of the container to receive a manually operable wheel 18. The wheel 18 is of course readily removable to be used on either shaft and is held in place on a corresponding shaft by a spring ball snap, as indicated by the numeral 19 in Figure 3.

To maintain a shaft 17 in place within a corresponding set of crotches 1411 of the side members 14, a thin metal cap 2t) is provided to be received over each end of the shaft and follow the contour of the corresponding crotch support arm 14a to be locked in place by a nut 21.

Stretched over the frame 13 and suitably secured to the side members 14 and the cross bars 15 is a thin, strong flexible sheet or lamina of material 22, commonly known as dental dam rubber, which initially receives a human foot for making an imprint thereof as will be hereinafter explained in connection with the operation of this unit. While dental dam rubber is used as a resilient diaphragm over the frame, other suitable materials may also be employed which also embody the characteristics of excellent restorative powers.

An all purpose heel guide 23 is carried at one end of the frame and secured to one of the cross bars 15, as seen in Figure 1, to aid in properly positioning a foot over the dental dam rubber 22.

The rotary shafts 17 effectively constitute a winding and reeling mechanism, and mounted on one of the shafts 17, such as that on the left in Figure l, is an ink printed or coated roll of film as indicated by the numeral 24, while at the right hand shaft 17, a plain core or winding spool is rotatably mounted to receive the free end of the film from the roll 24 and wind upon the empty spool. It is noted that the lm is taken off the roll 24 from the top while wound onto the empty core or spool over the top, thereby tensioning the film which is guided under the flexible sheet 22 over the cross bars 15.

While any suitable lm may be employed, it is desirable that the lm be of a non-ink absorbing type. A preferred form is a lm of polyvinylidene chloride, commonly and generically known as Saran, due to its nonink absorbing qualities and its extreme thinness which will permit considerable yardage to be wound on a roll of relatively small diameter, so that a great many fresh impressions could be made before the roll was consumed. Moreover such material is somewhat yieldable, so that under the pressure of a human foot, it is not likely to break or fracture, thereby causing a breakdown in the operation of the foot impression unit.

As seen in Figure 4, a narrow blank area along each edge of the film, as indicated by the numeral 24a, is provided. After the lm is ink printed or coated, it should be rolled up tightly, which will tend to spread the ink. The blank edges or narrow side areas 24a will accommodate the spreading ink before it reaches the outer edge, thereby preventing ink from exuding from the sides of the roll. The film is wound on a tubular cardboard tube or the like, as indicated by the numeral 24b and the successive layers of film seal the coated or printed surface in .so that it cannot dry out even over a long period of time. Of course, the film is only ink printed or coated on one side, as indicated by the bent back corner in Figure 4, and when the roll 24 is installed on the foot 4 impression unit as shown in Figure 1, the inked side of the lm faces downwardly or away from the flexible sheet 22.

To maintain the roll of film 24 and the blank core or spool in locking engagement with a corresponding shaft 17, a pair of slightly conical deep fluted members 25 is provided to grip the opposite open ends of the cardboard tube or spool, as clearly illustrated in Figure 3. Of course, the members 25 have square bores to be received over the square portion 17a of the shafts, and the flutes will grip the tubes or cardboard cores to effectively provide a united shaft and roll.

In operation, the foot impression device may rest on any flat floor surface with the lid 10 swung back to expose the interior of the box-like container.

A roll of ink printed or coated film, if not already mounted on the frame 13, may be quickly and easily installed by inserting a locking member 25 in each end of the roll core, positioning the roll and locking members between a pair of crotch-like support arms 14a at one end of the frame, inserting a shaft 17 through the locking members and roll core, positioning the bearing caps 20 over the opposite ends of the shaft 17 and in contact with the supporting arms 14a, and turning the nuts 21 onto the threaded ends of the shaft 17. Alternatively and preferably, the shaft 17 will be first inserted in the roll core in engagement with the locking members 25 and then positioned upon a pair of the crotch-like support arms 14a. A blank core or spool may be similarly mounted on the other shaft 17, and the free end of the lrn attached thereto, as seen in Figure 1.

It is obvious that after a roll of film has been installed in the foot impression device, the device will be ready for immediate operation at any time.

Before taking an impression, the frame 13 is swung upwardly to allow access to the interior of the bottom 11, wherein a sheet of recording material 26, such as graph paper or the like, may be inserted as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the bottom of the member 11 acting as a bed plate for the recording sheet 26. Then, the frame 16 is swung back into position over the recording sheet, and it is noted that a plurality of spacing blocks 27 are equally spaced along the side member 14 opposite the hinges 16 which coact with the hinges 16 to maintain the frame 13 in spaced relationship from the bottom of the supporting member 11 and the recording sheet 26, as seen in Figure 2. In addition, semi-circular cut-outs 11a are provided along the longitudinally free edge of the member 11 to receive the outer end portion 17e` of the shafts 17. Similar notches 10a are provided in the lid 10 to allow the members 10 and 11 to close during the non-use of the foot impression device.

By placing the winding wheel 18 on the proper shaft 17 and turning same, a fresh moist inked surface may be advanced to the underside of the dental dam rubber .22, from whence the foot impression device is ready for immediate use.

Then, a human foot is positioned over the rubber diaphragm 22 and positioned with respect to the heel guide, whereupon the weight of the foot is urged against the diaphragm 22 which in turn contacts the inked film 24a. Continued downward movement of the foot forces the inked film 24a into the contact with the recording sheet 26 to make a clear impression of the plantar surface of the foot. When the foot is removed from the diaphragm 22, the diaphragm automatically restores itself to its original position, and the entire frame 13 may be swung upwardly to allow removal of the recording sheet 26. To make another imprint, a new recording sheet will be disposed in the bed of the bottom member 11, and the tilm will be advanced to be taken up on. the empty spool and provide a fresh inked surface from the roll of film 24. The frame may then be swung into position over the recording sheet 26 in readiness for making the next imprint.

Should the impression device be desired to be used for finger printing, it is only necessary that the frame 13 be swung over into the top 10, thereby exposing the inked surface of the lm 24. After using the exposed inked surface, the rotation of the take up spool will bring a fresh inked surface into position for the next use.

While only one side of the film is printed or coated with ink, a small portion of the ink will be transferred to the other side of the lilm while in roll form. Inasmuch as a foot about to be imprinted may come in Contact with this side of the film which is exposed at each end of the frame 13, semi-cylindrical plastic caps may be provided to cover the rolls and alleviate this undesirable condition.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the instant invention provides a foot impression device which may be easily and quickly manipulated for taking a foot impression, is entirely portable, dispenses with the heretofore messy operation of using an inked roller, and may be economically manufactured.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention, but it is understood that this application is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A foot impression device which comprises a pair of dish-shaped members arranged to define an elongated box-like container and to receive a recording element, said members being hinged along one side thereof, a frame disposed in the container and spaced slightly from the bottom thereof, a winding and reeling mechanism carried by said frame, a sheet of resilient material fixed to and tensioned on the frame, and a roll supply of inked material supported at one end of the frame arranged to cooperate with the winding and reeling mechanism and provide a continuous supply of inked material beneath the fixed sheet.

2. In a foot impression device, a pair of dished members hinged together along one side and defining a boxlike container, a substantially rectangular tubular frame hinged at the same location as said dished members for swingable disposition therein, but slightly spaced from the bottom of said container, a resilient element stretched over said frame, a winding and reeling mechanism supported at opposite ends of said frame, a roll of ink-coated film on said mechanism arranged to pass between opposite ends of said frame and closely adjacent the underside thereof, and a recording sheet resting in the bottom of the container at the underside of said film.

3. In a foot impression device, a pair of dished members hinged together along one side and defining a boxlike container, a substantially rectangular tubular frame hinged at the same location as said dished members for swngable disposition therein, but slightly spaced from the bottom of said container, a flexible lamina stretched over said frame, a rotatable shaft supported at each end of said frame arranged to define a winding and reeling mechanism, a roll of ink-coated polyvinylidene chloride film received by one shaft to be unrolled thereby, said lm trained closely adjacent the underside of said frame and to be wound on the other shaft, and a recording sheet spaced under said film on the container bottom for receiving an imprint.

4. In a foot impression device, a pair of dished members hinged together along one side and defining a boxlike container, a substantially rectangular tubular frame hinged at the same location as said dished members for swingable disposition therein, but slightly spaced from the bottom of said container, a exible lamina stretched over said frame, a rotatable shaft supported at each end of said frame arranged to dene a winding and reeling mechanism, a roll of polyvinylidene chloride lm received by one shaft to be unrolled thereby, said film coated with ink on one side except for a narrow area `at each edge, said film trained closely adjacent the underside of said frame and to be wound on the other shaft and a recording sheet spaced under said film on the container bottom for receiving an imprint.

5. In a foot impression device, a pair of dished members hinged together along one side and defining a boxlike container, a substantially rectangular tubular frame hinged at the same location as said dished members for swingable disposition therein, but slightly spaced from the bottom of said container, a flexible lamina stretched over said frame, a rotatable 4shaft supported at each end of said frame arranged to define a winding and reeling mechanism, a roll of polyvinylidene chloride film received by one shaft to be unrolled thereby, said roll locked to the shaft to rotate therewith, said lm trained closely adjacent the underside of said frame and to be wound on the other shaft, said film coated with ink on the side away from the underside of said frame except for a narrow area at each edge and trained closely adjacent the underside of Vsaid frame and to be wound on the other shaft, and a recording sheet spaced under said film on the container bottom for receiving an imprint.

6. In a foot impression device, a pair of dished members hinged together along one side and defining a boxlike container, a substantially rectangular tubular frame hinged at the same location as said dished members for swingable disposition therein, means on the underside of the frame opposite the hinged portion coacting therewith to maintain the frame in spaced relation with the bottom of the container, a resilient element stretched over said frame, a winding and reeling mechanism supported at opposite ends of said frame, a roll of inkcoated lm on said mechanism arranged to pass between opposite ends of said frame and closely adjacent the underside thereof, and a recording sheet resting in the bottom of the container at the underside of said film.

7. In a portable impression device, a pair of dished cover members hinged together defining a box-like container, a frame hinged to said container at the same 1ocation as said cover members, a resilient sheet stretched over said frame and a movable film trained along one face of said sheet having an inked surface facing away from said sheet, said frame capable of -swinging into juxtaposition with one cover member to provide a foot impression device and of swinging into juxtaposition with another member to provide an exposed inked surface for ngerprinting.

8. In a foot impression device, a pair of dished members hinged together along one side and dening a boxlike container, a substantially rectangular tubular frame hinged at the same location as said dished members for swingable disposition therein, means on the underside of the frame opposite the hinged portion coacting therewith to maintain the frame in spaced relation with the bottom of the container, a thin rubber sheet stretched over said frame, a pair of upturned arms having forked ends extending from opposite ends of said frame, a shaft rotatably supported by each pair of arms, a roll of polyvinylidene chloride lm having an inked undersurface supported by one shaft and locked for rotation therewith, said film trained along the underside of said sheet and attached to la core locked on the other shaft to be wound thereon, and a sheet of recording material on the bottom of the container facing the inked surface of said film.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,001,387 Goddard Aug, 22, 1911 1,225,500 Rosino May 8, 1917 2,149,573 Bounds Mar. 7, 1939 2,299,652 Rahn Oct. 20, 1942 2,702,251 Speed et al. Feb. 15, 1955 

